The President-elect touched all the right bases in his victory lap around the capital, but his visit showed that the struggle over his body and soul is just beginning

IF BILL CLINTON'S 36-HOUR STOPOVER in Washington last week prefigures the next four years, the nation is in for a spell of dizzying presidential activity. Clinton seemed everywhere at once. There he was at the White House sitting in the Chief Executive's wing chair by the fireplace. Moments later he was walking a grim inner-city block talking to valiant shop owners. At dawn the next day, he ordered a postjog cup of decaf at McDonald's before heading off to breakfast on Capitol Hill.

Every President-elect transits in his own way, but Clinton's moves so far show that he has studied transitions...